There's a lot of wonderful food in North Jersey, yet often many of us end up eating uninspired, forgettable grub. We at The Record, Daily Record, and NorthJersey.com, however, frequently go out to eat (some of us readily admit to being food obsessed). And every now and then, we discover knock-your-socks-off dishes. And since we're in the business of reporting, we thought we'd report back to you on our delicious discoveries so that you can go enjoy terrific food too.

Check back in February — we are determined to share our finds with you every month.

Orange Caramel Cake at Lefkes, Englewood Cliffs

Orange crumble cake served with vanilla ice cream, which is listed on the menu as portokalopita, at Lefkes Estiatorio(Photo11: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com)

There is a lot to like at modern Greek restaurant Lefkes: the super-crisp zucchini and eggplant chips; the wonderfully refreshing Greek salad; the moist halibut with lentils; the lemon potatoes; and the delicious blood orange margarita. But no matter what, make room for the orange caramel cake that you won't be faulted for at first thinking is a sundae; it's served in a glass dessert cup. But this citrus-rich crumbled cake topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream slightly enveloped in a caramel sauce is more than cake a la mode; it's dessert heaven. $9. —Esther Davidowitz, food editor

Pierogi at Michael's Roscommon House, Belleville

Pierogies at Michael's Roscommon House in Belleville.(Photo11: Michael's Roscommon House)

A get-together with friends landed me in this unfamiliar spot and I couldn't have been happier. My friends and I ordered a bunch of apps — and indulged (a bit too much, I confess). We were stuffed from the loaded fries ($8), Jersey wings ($11), the mac 'n' cheese ($9), the Portuguese garlic shrimp ($12) and loaded tots ($9.50). But that didn't stop us from scarfing down every morsel on the standout dish: pierogi ($9.50). Filled with just the right amount of potato and cheese, these heavenly packets were topped with onions and melted butter, and served with applesauce and sour cream for dipping. I can't wait to go back. —Kimberly Wilson, features writer

Steve's Burger at Steve's Burgers, Garfield

Steve's burger is a winner at Steve's Burgers in Garfield(Photo11: Staff)

It may not look like much — a roadside stand with a counter, blackboard menu, simple paper plates and plain paper napkins — but you don't go to Steve's Burgers for its decor. You go to scarf down burgers (and cheesesteaks). There are a slew of burgers you can make disappear — classic, bacon cheeseburger, double American cheeseburger. And owner/chef Stephen Chrisomalis comes up with a wacko over-the-top burger nearly every week: skyscraper-high concoctions with not-your-typical burger toppings including pulled pork, eggs, sausages, chorizo, potatoes, mac 'n' cheese. But the No. 1 bestseller (and my current favorite) is the two-fisted Steve's Burger: melted American cheese oozing across a succulent patty topped by crisp strips of smoky bacon, fluffy onion rings and -- why not -- lettuce and tomato. It's all drenched with Steve's special housemade sauce. Warning: Scrumptious beef juices drip from this burger, so lean in — and use those paper napkins. $4.99. — Esther Davidowitz, food editor

Massaman Curry at Kai Yang, Montclair

Relatively new Thai restaurant Kai Yang's namesake is its rotisserie chicken. But it gets stiff competition from the sweet-and-savory massaman curry. Owner Sheree Sarabhaya said that if you don't know how to make a good pad Thai or massaman you shouldn't bother opening a Thai restaurant. I can vouch for Kai Yang's massaman, a Thai classic that showcased carrot bits, chunks of potatoes and cubes of pineapple bathing in a delicious sauce ($17 with shrimp and $14 with chicken or vegetables). — Esther Davidowitz, food editor

Dessert Flight at Vanillamore, Montclair

Dessert flights -- all works of art by Vanillamore(Photo11: Vanillamore)

The only thing better than one dessert is three desserts. Which is why I forced a group of friends, stuffed after a filling meal, to stop at Vanillamore. I opted for a dessert flight, the Chocolate Obsession, which consisted of a hefty dark chocolate cake with almond cream and espresso caramel that defies the term mini, a decadent spicy chocolate ganache tartlet with hazelnuts and sea salt, and a chocolate chip cookie sandwich with fudge and malted milk that made me feel like a kid again. The malted milk is presented in an adorable glass bottle with a straw. $13. — Rebecca King, food and dining reporter

Crispy Brussels Sprouts at Hearth & Tap, Montvale

Hearth & Tap crispy Brussels sprouts(Photo11: staff)

It's easy to "eat your greens" when they taste this darn good. Paul Bazzini, executive chef of this family-friendly gastropub believes that he would have a "mutiny" if he tried to take his awesome crispy Brussels sprouts off his menu. It certainly would be a huge mistake. The crisp sprouts are dressed in a honey-chili glaze and flecked with pancetta nuggets, roasted sesame and puffed rice. Simply divine. $13. — Esther Davidowitz, food editor